And there he met with a silly old palmer,

concerned. We were due for an overhaul when this emergency came up, Guildmember. The Broad Sea had more turbulence than we had anticipated putting a strain on the compensators as well as the stabilizers, especially at speed. The Captain was flatteringly deferential so Killashandra nodded as he made his points, and frowned wisely at the print-out as if she knew what she was seeing. Fortunately the bridge was buffered against crystal noise as the rest of the ship was not, giving her a respite from the sound. Until she put her hand on the bulkhead and felt it coursing through the metal. The drive is losing efficiency, Killashandra said, recalling the phrases which Carrik had used at the shuttle port on Fuerte, and obscurely pleased with herself that her memory remained lucid for that period, now so completely divorced from her present life. Frankly, Id prefer heaving to and having a good look at the crystal drive, but our orders are to proceed with all possible speed to the Mainland. The Captain shrugged and sighed. Killashandra decided against reassuring him. The drive was souring: she didnt need the printouts to tell her that. But she had only the one experience on which to base an opinion and had no intention of ruining the image she had projected by a bad guess. Then Captain Festinel asked hesitantly, Do you really hear crystal resonance? Killashandra was aware of the expectant hush in the bridge as junior and senior officers, not to mention Lars at her side, waited for her reply. Yes, indeed. Like a dull ache from my earbones to my heels. If it were any louder, youd find me asking for a life raft! We know so little about your profession It is one like any other, Captain, with its dangers, its rewards, an apprenticeship to pass, and then years of refining ones skills. Killashandra was conscious, as she spoke, of one set of ears listening more keenly than others. She dared not look at Lars. One facet of my training was retuning soured crystals. She made a rueful grimace. Not my favorite occupation. Are there any prerequisites for the profession? the older engineer asked, as he looked up from the print-out. Perfect and absolute pitch is the one essential. Why? Lars asked, surprised by that unexpected condition. Were called crystal singers because we must tune our subsonic cutters to the dominant pitch of the crystal we cut from df series digital camera the ranges. A dangerous and exhausting task. She held out her hands so that all could see the fine white scars that crisscrossed the skin. I was told, Lars said in an amused drawl, that crystal singers have amazing recuperative powers. That is quite true. Crystal resonance apparently slows the degenerative processes and accelerates the regenerative. Crystal singers retain their youthful appearance well into the third century. How old are you, Guildmember? a brash young voice asked. Frowning, the Captain turned about to seek the source of such insolence but Killashandra laughed. I am a relatively new member of the Heptite Guild, and in my third decade. Are you able to travel anywhere you wish? Did she detect a note of yearning? All crystal singers travel, she said with commendable restraint and then realized that her statement was hardly politic on Optheria. She had shown few examples of the tact for which Trag had chosen her. But we always return to Ballybran, and she tried to make it sound as if going home was more desirable than traveling far away. No sense in arousing hopes on Optheria, especially in the presence of the cruisers senior officers. Once a crystal singer, always a crystal singer! In the same instant the printer extruded an impatient sheet, Killashandra felt a stab of crystal shock travel painfully from her heelbone to her ears. Kill the drive, she shouted as the Captain was issuing the command. Breathless from the unexpected peaking, Killashandra sagged against Lars. Congratulations, she said, hoping the sarcasm would hide the pain in her bones, you have just lost one of your crystals. What are they? Blues? Greens, the Captain replied with some pride, but the same crystals since the cruiser was commissioned. And Optheria will spring credit for organ crystals with considerably more alacrity than for plebian greens, huh? Festinel nodded solemn affirmation. Engineer, I request permission to inspect the crystal drive with you. My apprenticeship in tuning crystals may be of some use here. Honored, Guildmember. He strode to the comunit. Damage report! Sir, came the disembodied voice from the bowels of the cruiser, casing blown, foam applied, no injuries. As you were! An acrid stench. a combination of odors arising from the intense heat on the crystal casing